Kodansha USA has confirmed that they will be re releasing the manga of the well known Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, starting with the prequel Codename: Sailor V.

From www.kodanshacomics.com/:
NEW YORK, New York - March 18, 2011 - Kodansha USA Publishing, a subsidiary of Kodansha, announced today the exciting return of Naoko Takeuchi's SAILOR MOON, one of the most significant names in comics and manga, to US publishing. Brand new deluxe editions of the acclaimed series will be released by Kodansha USA's Kodansha Comics imprint in September 2011. Out of print for six years, SAILOR MOON re-launches along with Takeuchi's two-volume prequel series CODENAME: SAILOR V, in print in the US for the first time-making this one of the most highly anticipated manga releases in years.

The SAILOR MOON manga, which originated in Japan in 1992 and debuted in the US in 1997, follows Usagi Tsukino, a young girl who transforms into super heroine Sailor Moon to combat evil and fight for love and justice in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. The first successful shojo (girls') manga release in the US, SAILOR MOON changed the book landscape and helped establish the foundation for the manga craze; in particular drawing attention to the popularity of comics among female readers.

Prequel series CODENAME: SAILOR V, the first of Takeuchi's "magical girl" manga, will make its highly anticipated debut in the US alongside the SAILOR MOON re-launch. In CODENAME: SAILOR V, teenager Minako Aino fights as Sailor V against the villains of the Dark Agency before she discovers Sailor Moon.

The Kodansha USA editions of SAILOR MOON will be published on a bi-monthly schedule and follow the 2003 Japanese re-release format of the classic series. The original 18 volumes have been condensed into 12 volumes covering the main storyline, and two volumes dedicated to short stories. Each volume has gorgeous new cover art, retouched interior art and dialogue along with extensive bonus material from Takeuchi, and detailed translation notes.

One of the most recognized manga and anime properties in the world, SAILOR MOON took American pop culture by storm, with mentions in music ("One Week" by Barenaked Ladies), bestselling books (The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot) and more. In Japan, over 15 million copies have been sold and the series has generated everything from animated features to live action musicals, a live action television series and countless merchandise.

"I'm very excited to reintroduce Ms. Takeuchi's work to her American fans," said Yoshio Irie, president and CEO of Kodansha USA Publishing. Irie is also the former chief editor of Nakayosi magazine in which the SAILOR MOON manga was serialized. "As we continue to build the Kodansha Comics manga list, a title like SAILOR MOON is the jewel in our crown. As the former chief editor of the work in Japan, I'm especially thrilled to finally release the prequel, CODENAME: SAILOR V, to the many fans who have been asking for it at long last."

I agree with kerli94, re-doing the anime in dubbed would be so sweet! But this is like a dream come true. One of which I think I will go all Otaku on. Buy one copy for reading, one back-up, and one for collecting. I think there is another one where it is for lending to others but I don't think that one will be a problem with me. lol. This along with the original complete copy set will make my manga part of Sailor Moon Complete. Now I just have to find a way to get the anime. lol

(Anticipating that this news would eventually reach here (this news was out there for a week), I decided to paste an opinion piece I typed on my facebook wall in here...a bit edited though.)

Sailor Moon is coming back, but hold it people...

Many of us probably knew over the weekend that Kodansha USA was gonna bring back Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon which is what I refer to by it's FULL english name, or Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon for the japanese purists. But yeah, they're bringing it back to america....but starting with the very first manga that was a prequel to the entire series. Codename: Sailor V.

This is a great move, because this is exactly what Naoko Takeuchi started with. Sailor V...Sailor Venus....Minako...call her what you want, was THE orignal Sailor Soldier (yes, they're called Sailor Soldiers or Sailor Senshi. Not this "scouts" bullshit). You know damn well that once this is released, the main series will follow right behind it.

It's good that a company decided to bring this product back to the united states. There are millions apon millions of people...yes girls AND guys like myself who loves this series. Some of us like me have even created our own Sailor Soldier.

But many of us seem to have gotten a little too excited for anything to do with PSSM returning to the states without thinking for a moment. This big news is NOT about the anime at all. This is about the very first manga that was released by a woman who changed the magical-girl genre of manga and anime forever. And that will eventually happen only if Codename: Sailor V does well in sales. And as I said, I support this move. We've never seen or read this before (well most of us..), and this is a good start into the series itself. And then they'll release the rest of the manga series from there.

However, I'm sure you also remember one of the most horrible anime dubs of all time. The story of how this product came to america is a sad one. First we had Saban try to make Mighty Morphin Power Rangers out of it (which Toei did 10 times better in PGSM), and one of the characters was in a wheelchair. A WHEELCHAIR. That doesn't offend you? Seek help. NOW. Then DiC took the ball and dropped it. CWi took the air out of the ball from there. You want a good repersentation of political correctness, offensive false misrepersentational character stereotypes in an anime (try saying that 5 times), see the english dub of this anime. And even fudging up Super Sailor Moon's attack in one episode....how the hell does CWi not edit that and just let it slide?? Terri Hawkes, I hope you take that to hell with you!!! And....oh by the way, we never got to see an english adaptation of the Stars season.

But...what we didn't know that when the manga was released here, the orignal 18 volumes was condensed into 12. Also, using the pathetic english names that was given to some of the characters to fit in with the 2nd worst anime dub of all time in my opinion.

If you're like me, you'd be worried as hell right now that Kodansha USA will do the same with the republishing of the manga. Let's hope those folks has a brain, and a clue, as to what the true PSSM fans have been begging for: RESPECT FOR THIS SERIES. That means you translate to english what needs to be translated, and not change everything completely for the sake of political correct bullshit a'la DiC. Codename: Sailor V, and all the 18 volumes. None of this "sailor scouts" shit....they're Sailor Soldiers or Sailor Senshi. No name changes, we like "Tsukino Usagi", "Chiba Mamoru", and such the way it is. No gender swapping ether. Zoisite is a homosexual guy who loves Kunsite. Fisheye is a femmine looking guy who loves guys. KEEP IT THAT WAY, even for the straight folks like me. You'd think in 2011 they would know that. Let's hope they do.

Do all this, and yes indeed the sales will go through the roof. That will get the word out to a FUNimation or some other company to re-dub the entire series in the same way as I described it for the manga!! Hopefully all the specials too. And for the love of god....NO TELEVISION. DVD/Bluray release only.

So before we all get super excited about the re-release of the manga, let's think about everything I stated here and wait until reviews and such are out first. Let's all hope they stick to the orignal all the way. Make this product what it is supposed to be, and not what it pretended to be by those that didn't know shit about anime or manga.

I preordered the first two volumes to show my support. I am nervous that they'll Americanize it to go along with the old dub. On the other hand, the English version has been off TV for over 5 years now and is out of print. I'm hoping that they won't feel a need to "tie-in" with the dub for sales since it's no longer available anyway. I have the subtitled edition of the show and even Pioneer dropped the ball there by getting all the Witches 5's names wrong. Eugeal? All the characters were named after types of stones. Eugeal is not a type of stone. Eudial (Eudialyte) is. You'd think American companies would bother to do a little research about their product! Anyway..tangent.

(Anticipating that this news would eventually reach here (this news was out there for a week), I decided to paste an opinion piece I typed on my facebook wall in here...a bit edited though.)

Sailor Moon is coming back, but hold it people...

Many of us probably knew over the weekend that Kodansha USA was gonna bring back Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon which is what I refer to by it's FULL english name, or Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon for the japanese purists. But yeah, they're bringing it back to america....but starting with the very first manga that was a prequel to the entire series. Codename: Sailor V.

This is a great move, because this is exactly what Naoko Takeuchi started with. Sailor V...Sailor Venus....Minako...call her what you want, was THE orignal Sailor Soldier (yes, they're called Sailor Soldiers or Sailor Senshi. Not this "scouts" bullshit). You know damn well that once this is released, the main series will follow right behind it.

It's good that a company decided to bring this product back to the united states. There are millions apon millions of people...yes girls AND guys like myself who loves this series. Some of us like me have even created our own Sailor Soldier.

But many of us seem to have gotten a little too excited for anything to do with PSSM returning to the states without thinking for a moment. This big news is NOT about the anime at all. This is about the very first manga that was released by a woman who changed the magical-girl genre of manga and anime forever. And that will eventually happen only if Codename: Sailor V does well in sales. And as I said, I support this move. We've never seen or read this before (well most of us..), and this is a good start into the series itself. And then they'll release the rest of the manga series from there.

However, I'm sure you also remember one of the most horrible anime dubs of all time. The story of how this product came to america is a sad one. First we had Saban try to make Mighty Morphin Power Rangers out of it (which Toei did 10 times better in PGSM), and one of the characters was in a wheelchair. A WHEELCHAIR. That doesn't offend you? Seek help. NOW. Then DiC took the ball and dropped it. CWi took the air out of the ball from there. You want a good repersentation of political correctness, offensive false misrepersentational character stereotypes in an anime (try saying that 5 times), see the english dub of this anime. And even fudging up Super Sailor Moon's attack in one episode....how the hell does CWi not edit that and just let it slide?? Terri Hawkes, I hope you take that to hell with you!!! And....oh by the way, we never got to see an english adaptation of the Stars season.

But...what we didn't know that when the manga was released here, the orignal 18 volumes was condensed into 12. Also, using the pathetic english names that was given to some of the characters to fit in with the 2nd worst anime dub of all time in my opinion.

If you're like me, you'd be worried as hell right now that Kodansha USA will do the same with the republishing of the manga. Let's hope those folks has a brain, and a clue, as to what the true PSSM fans have been begging for: RESPECT FOR THIS SERIES. That means you translate to english what needs to be translated, and not change everything completely for the sake of political correct bullshit a'la DiC. Codename: Sailor V, and all the 18 volumes. None of this "sailor scouts" shit....they're Sailor Soldiers or Sailor Senshi. No name changes, we like "Tsukino Usagi", "Chiba Mamoru", and such the way it is. No gender swapping ether. Zoisite is a homosexual guy who loves Kunsite. Fisheye is a femmine looking guy who loves guys. KEEP IT THAT WAY, even for the straight folks like me. You'd think in 2011 they would know that. Let's hope they do.

Do all this, and yes indeed the sales will go through the roof. That will get the word out to a FUNimation or some other company to re-dub the entire series in the same way as I described it for the manga!! Hopefully all the specials too. And for the love of god....NO TELEVISION. DVD/Bluray release only.

So before we all get super excited about the re-release of the manga, let's think about everything I stated here and wait until reviews and such are out first. Let's all hope they stick to the orignal all the way. Make this product what it is supposed to be, and not what it pretended to be by those that didn't know shit about anime or manga.

Now, let's sit back and see what happens.

This is a work of brilliance.

I agree. The localization of Sailormoon, while normal for its time, would be a detriment now. Many of the themes of Sailormoon should be KEPT.